Defenseman Radko Gudas was named the ninth captain in Ducks franchise history on Thursday, becoming the first player to sport the “C” on his jersey since Ryan Getzlaf’s retirement in 2022.
“After taking time to assess our group over the last few seasons, Radko emerged as a natural leader who encompasses all of the qualities of a captain and the respect of his teammates, our staff and his peers,” Verbeek said in a statement. “With a young group of players establishing themselves in the NHL, we felt it was necessary to have a veteran lead our team. Radko exemplifies what it means to be a professional, how to carry yourself on and off the ice and in the community, and be a mentor to our young group that will become the next leaders of the team.”
Gudas, 34, signed as a free agent with the Ducks before last season after going on a run to the Stanley Cup Final with the Florida Panthers. He had previously played for the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He arrived to Tampa Bay as a fourth-round pick in 2010, the same year Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek joined the Lightning as its director of pro scouting. Gudas won a Calder Cup in the Bolts’ organization under Jon Cooper.
This past spring, Gudas captured gold at the World Championships with Czechia, aiding the cause of goaltender Lukáš Dostál, as he will throughout the upcoming campaign with the Ducks. Gudas became the sixth NHL captain born in either Czechia or the former Czechoslovakia.
Gudas will shepherd a group that, for the most part, is considerably younger. Among the multitude of lottery picks and other touted up-and-comers are Mason McTavish, 21, and Leo Carlsson, 19, both of whom have shown leadership qualities but neither of whom is old enough to rent a car.
“I’m really looking forward to trying to help the young roster we have to grow, as players and as a team,” Gudas said.
Gudas spoke of “building a great brotherhood,” and said he wanted to do everything possible to reward the confidence his teammates and the Ducks franchise placed in him.
“When the organization made the decision, I was thrilled that that’s what the guys think and that’s what the management thinks that I’m able to do,” Gudas said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”
Ducks coach Greg Cronin said he and Verbeek were looking for someone to not only represent the team, but the organization. For them, Gudas also embodied the resilience and tenacity they wanted to define their group moving forward.
“Pat and I have talked about how our team has to have this relentless mentality,” Cronin said. “What player better personifies that than Radko?”
Cronin, who coached against Gudas in the Eastern Conference as an assistant, said he was well aware of the gruff, boisterous and menacing figure Gudas could portray himself as on the ice. Whether it was delivering a thunderous if not entirely legal check or screaming in a goalie’s face, Gudas had earned a reputation that belied the girl-dad’s affable, empathetic and calm demeanor
“I coached against him for a number of years and he has the image of a ferocious player, of being intimidating. He’s got the beard, so he’s got the look, too, that backs up his play,” Cronin said. “[But] I knew within my conversation on the phone with him that he was a good guy. He has a good value system, he’s really invested and he’s professional.”
